"Tearful Goodbye: Irish Teens Leave Texas in Emotional Farewell," Arlington Morning News, July 29, 1999, A1.

By WILL POTTER

Finvola Kelly wanted desperately to avoid returning to Ireland.

The 15-year-old from Belfast thought about stowing away on an airport luggage cart and making her way back to Arlington. She thought about jumping on another plane, just to stay in the country. She even considered persuading her American counselor to go in her place.

"I don't want to get on the plane," she said. "I want to stay forever. I'll just get my parents to visit me."

But none of her hopes came true.

Despite the gut-wrenching moans and sobs, 16 Irish teens left Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Wednesday, ending the month-long Ulster Project that brings teens from war-torn Northern Ireland to live with host families in the United States.

The 32 Irish and American teens, Catholic and Protestant, spent July living, worshipping and socializing with each other to better understand their differences. But during their final hours together, teens didn't worry about peace in Northern Ireland. They just wanted to stay together.

"I see our leaving as not the end of 31 short-term relationships," said David Maxwell, a 15-year-old from Belfast. "But merely the start of 31 lifelong friendships."

When Ulster Project officials tried to shuffle the teens onto the plane, the youths resisted. They clung to each other, sobbing.

Parents cried, too, because they were losing their new children.

"I never expected this," said Julie Landry, Finvola's host mother. "She is one of our kids. She is one of mine."

Leaving best friends is hard enough, Finvola said, but it's unbearable to leave such a loving family.

"I had the best host family I could ever imagine," she said. "They made me feel so at home and so loved. They gave until it hurt."

When airport officials announced their flight was overbooked, Irish teens lit up at the prospect of staying another day, or even another hour, with their new families.

"Finvola, give up your seat so you don't have to leave..." said 9-year-old Allison Landry.

Allison's sister, Danielle Landry, was Finvola's Arlington counterpart. Now, Allison considers Finvola her sister too.

"I'm gonna try to sneak on board as her carry-on luggage," Allison said. "I don't want her to leave."

Danielle said the hardest part will be waking up without her best friend.

"It's going to be hard getting up in the morning and having nothing to look in the book for," Danielle said, referring to the Ulster Project activities book that listed the events for the month. "I hope it gets better over time."

The appropriately named "Tear Fest" began when teens, parents and volunteers met for a brunch at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Arlington-the same church where Arlington teens first gathered to prepare for the project.

This time, though, teens knew it was the beginning of the end.

Reality began to sink in , teens said, as they signed each others' Ulster Project T-shirts and exchanged gifts.

Miranda Davies gave her Irish sister, Debbie Coey, a lock of her curly brown hair.

"I want her to have a part of me," she said.

Debbie, who is affectionately nicknamed "Pixie," gave "Pixie kisses" by marking X's on everyone's cheeks in magic marker.

When the plane pulled onto the runway, the Arlington teens pressed their faces against the airport windows, the tears smearing the Pixie kisses. They shined a flashlight on the plane, hoping to get a response.

"I think I can see them," one teen said. "I can see Rickie's hat."

Rickie Leckie, a 15-year-old from Belfast, pressed his new Cowboy hat against the plane window, signaling goodbye to his friends.

But the goodbye isn't final, Arlington teens promised. Some are planning trips to Ireland next summer.

"We'll all see them next year," said Joel Stonedale, a 15-year-old from Arlington. "Even if we have to swim."